LIMA , Peru -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The government of Peru on Friday declared a state of emergency in a remote northern area after a clash between police and indigenous people protesting what they say is the exploitation of their native lands left a number of people dead .

Alberto Pizango , a leader of the protesters , says his followers did not kill police officers .

Police and indigenous protesters said separately that at least eight police and 22 protesters died .

The clash took place at dawn outside the northern province of Bagua in the Department of Amazonas as police attempted to break up a roadblock on the 59th day of protests .

Foreign Minister Jose A. Garcia Belaunde told CNN en Español that the state of emergency was ordered to give the government the opportunity to re-establish order and reopen talks with the protesters .

Under the state of emergency , the army can be called on to maintain order . `` Look , the use of force is legitimate , '' he said . `` Today , what we have received in response were gunshots -- directed at police helicopters , killing eight or nine police . ''

But Alberto Pizango , the principal leader of the indigenous group , said his followers could not have been responsible for killing any police , because they were armed only with stones and arrows .

He said the demonstrators had been pursuing a peaceful protest .

Authorities have not confirmed the number of civilian deaths .

The director general of the police , Jose Sanchez Farfan , said government buildings in Bagua had been looted and set aflame .

Though a congressional commission has recommended the repeal of the laws rejected by the native communities , President Alan Garcia supports those that allow using the lands , maintaining that the richness of the Amazon belongs to all Peruvians and that a significant percentage of natural areas are already protected .

`` These people do n't have crowns , '' he said about the protesters . `` These people are n't first-class citizens who can say -- 400,000 natives to 28 million Peruvians -- ` You do n't have the right to be here . ' No way . That is a huge error . ''

Garcia called Pizango a criminal . Several days ago , Garcia announced an arrest warrant had been issued for Pizango , who is accused of inciting his followers to violence .

Journalist Maria Elena Belaunde contributed to this story from Lima .

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Violence flares as police attempt to break up a roadblock

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Government declares state of emergency in remote northern area

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Indigenous people protest what they call the exploitation of their native lands

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Peruvian president says land belongs to all the people of the country